Caregiver-infant interactions :Stages of attachment by Schaffer Flashcards
What are the Stages of attachment identified by Schaffer
Stage 1: Asocial
Stage 2: Indiscriminate attachment
Stage 3:specific attachment
Stage 4 multiple attachments
What are the features of stage 1 of Schaffer’s attachment (4)
- Between0-6 weeks.
- Babies display innate behaviour–> such as crying and smiling that ensure proximity to any potential caregiver.
*They will also display these behaviours to non human objects. *Anyone can comfort them as they do not prefer any individual caregiver
What are the features of stage 2 of Schaffer’s attachment (4)
- Indiscriminate attachment Between 6-weeks to 7 months
- Infants develop the ability to tell the difference between humans and objects and between familiar and unfamiliar individuals
- smile more at the people they see frequently.
*However they do not yet show stranger anxiety or separation anxiety
What are the features of stage 3 of Schaffer’s attachment (3)
- Specific attachment Between 7-9, months
- Babies form a strong attachment to the primary caregiver.
- It is in this stage that separation anxiety and stranger anxiety develop
What are the features of stage 4 of Schaffer’s attachment (3)
- 9-10 months+
- The infants starts to form attachments with other regular caregivers
- Stranger anxiety starts to decrease
Schaffer and Emerson (1964) - How they identified the stages of attachment (8)
*Schaffer and Emerson (1964) identified the four stages of attachment from the results of a longitudinal observation of 60 babies and their families.
*In the first year, data was collected through monthly observations and interviews with an additional follow up visit at 18 months.
*Two types of behaviour were assessed: stranger anxiety, signs of discomfort when left with the researcher and separation anxiety discomfort when the primary caregiver is moved to another room.
*It was found that separation anxiety occurs in most babies by 25-32 weeks with stranger distress occurring in most babies approximately one month later .
*In the 18 month follow up, 87% had developed multiple attachments.
*These results suggest that development occurs in the stages outlined by Schaffer, perhaps being a biologically influenced process.
*As multiple attachments develop quickly they are important not just the primary attachments to the mother as argued by researchers such Bowlby;
*Also, the quality of caregiver infant interactions directly impacts the strength of attachment for infants and their mothers
Con about the sample in Schaffer and Emerson (1964) and temporal validity (3)
*The sample in Schaffer’s study may not be generalisable as it only includes a group of working class mothers in 1960s Glasgow;
*This culture is not representative of much of the UK or the rest of the world.
*The study may also lack temporal validity, as child rearing practices have likely changed significantly in the past 60 years
How does Schaffer and EMerson have High Mundane realism (4)
(pro)
*As infants and their families were observed in their open homes,
*The study has a high level of mundane realism; the experience for infants were normal.
*Strangers visiting the family home and the caregiver temporarily leaving the room are normal occurrences.
*This suggests behaviour recording was valid
What are the names of the studies in this chapter (Give the year with a short description too)
